Rookie Report: A pair of undrafted players making good 1st impressions
The Rookie Report highlights first-year players, focusing on how they might perform in their debut season and beyond.
With the draft now over, it's time to turn our attention to how this year's rookies will impact their new clubs. There will be plenty of time to discuss Jameis Winston, Leonard Williams and the rest of the top prospects, so let's start this week by looking at some of the lesser-known talents hoping to make rosters in 2015.
Antwan Goodley, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Goodley started 30 games during his four years at Baylor, catching 150 passes for 2,366 yards and 21 touchdowns, including a team-high 1,339 yards in 2013. He also had 45 kickoff returns for 1,037 tards and ran an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.44 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Despite all that, he went undrafted.
The 5-foot-10, 209-pound receiver will now battle for a spot on the Cowboys' 53-man roster after signing with the team as a free agent.
Former Cowboys scout and current DallasCowboys.com analyst Bryan Broaddus offered this analysis of Goodley during rookie minicamp:
Watching Goodley play, he is not like your typical receiver in that he is physically heavier but there is separation there up the field. If he has to push off to buy space he is not afraid to do so. I still believe that he will have to work on the consistency of his hands and his technique when it comes to catching the ball.
Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley appear cemented as the Cowboys' top three receiving options, but the team has yet to decide on a replacement for departed kick returner Dwayne Harris. Goodley could be an option given his special teams experience.
Mike Hull, LB, Miami Dolphins
Hull had more tackles (140) than any other linebacker in the Big 10 last season, but went undrafted in part because of his size (6-feet, 232 pounds) and the fact that he was coming off arthroscopic knee surgery.
Little did Hull know, the Dolphins were praying that the Penn State product would go untouched.
"We kept the candle lit in the church hoping he wouldn't get drafted," linebackers coach Mark Duffner told Andy Cohen of the team's official website.
Miami doesn't have a whole lot at the linebacker position beyond Jelani Jenkins, Koa Misi and Kelvin Sheppard, so Hull has a real opportunity to make a name for himself. He was already turning heads during the team's rookie minicamp.
"If he keeps doing what he's been doing, and his DNA stays the same, he's got a real chance here," Duffner said.
Added former Dolphins receiver and Penn State alum O.J. McDuffie: "He was the heart and soul of that Penn State team. I mean the entire team, not just the defense."
Quick Hits
- The New York Giants think they may have found a gem in Will Tye, an undrafted tight end out of Stony Brook. Head coach Tom Coughlin spoke very highly of Tye following the team's rookie minicamp.
- There's no guarantee seventh-round pick Ifo Ekpre-Olomu will play this year coming off a torn ACL, but whenever he does, the Cleveland Browns have high hopes.
- One of the more interesting battles to keep an eye on during the St. Louis Rams' offseason program will be on the offensive line, where they have several rookies looking to crack the final roster.
- Former Michigan State linebacker Taiwan Jones is one of nine undrafted rookies on the New York Jets' roster for rookie minicamp. Head coach Todd Bowles admits he was surprised to see Jones go undrafted.
- The Seattle Seahawks rarely hold practices longer than two hours, but they still manage to get a lot done during that time. This came as a surprise to some of their rookies, who aren't used to the quick tempo.